“Handmaiden,” the Korean classic thriller and period film directed, co-written, and co-produced by legendary director Park Chan-wook, is a masterpiece of a movie. It is a story of clandestine love between two women in a male-dominated, cruel world and packs a series of plot twists.

Set in Japanese-occupied Korea of the early 20th century, the movie opens with Sook-hee, a young lady being shown into the ostentatious home of Lady Hideko (Kim Tae-ri).

Flashbacks reveal that Sook-hee grew up in a modest home and helps her parents by caring for young babies who are to be sent to Japan for foster care. Despite her youth, Sook-hee has had a hard life that has made her extremely wise to the ways of the world.

One day, Fujiwara, a Korean conman who poses as a Japanese ‘Count’, pays Sook-hee’s family a visit. He has a proposition for Sook-hee. Fujiwara will arrange for Sook-hee to gain employment as the handmaiden of Lady Hideko.

Young Lady Hideko has been betrothed to her middle-aged uncle, Kouzuki (Cho Jin-woong), who is also a crook, another Korean conman posing as a Japanese collector of antique books. Kouzuki has ensured that Hideko grows up according to his wishes, mistreating her from a young age and keeping her restricted to her home, with little exposure to the real world.

However, Fujiwara has other plans. Sook-hee is to win Hideoko’s trust and persuade her to elope with Fujiwara and get married. After this, Fujiwara will have Hideoko committed to an insane asylum under false pretexts and seize Hideko’s inheritance.

However, when Sook-hee becomes Hideoko’s handmaiden, the two women develop an unstoppable attraction to one another. Upon learning more about each other, they also feel mutual empathy that soon leads to an affair.

For Fujiwara, things seem to go as planned when Hideko agrees to marry him and elope with him to Japan. However, upon her insistence, Sook-hee continues to be her handmaiden and accompanies the couple to Japan.

Upon arrival in Japan, Sook-hee is shocked to discover that she has been double-crossed by both Hideko and Fujiwara when the married couple has her admitted to an asylum by claiming that she is Hideko, the heiress who has lost her sensibilities.

There are more twists and double-crosses, some revealed with flashbacks that move the plot along to its unexpected end. Saying more may ruin your viewing experience. However, I will say that the movie becomes even more engrossing with more outrageous themes and a superb climax.

Enough cannot be said about the cinematography and sets. Care has been taken to ensure that each frame in the movie, whether shot outdoors or indoors, is like a painting. The movie’s costume design is also outstanding. Indeed, “The Handmaiden” is a visual treat.

This is not a movie for the faint of heart. It is packed with sex scenes involving the two female protagonists and some scenes of violence. There are also adult themes that can shock some viewers. If you can get past all of this, go ahead and watch it, as it is a special movie experience with a fine plot involving twists and turns and outstanding acting performances.

In the past decade, Korean movies have set the bar high in several genres. It is only a matter of time before director Park Chan-wook, who also directed the iconic movie “Oldboy,” becomes a well-known name in the US.

For adults who can stomach a bold plot, “The Handmaiden” is a must-see movie.